Saturday, February 23, 2013

Rollformer CEO tells it like it is.

THE head of the company behind the Hills Hoist says the Gillard government's industry policy will fail to foster innovation.

Yesterday Hills Holding chief executive Ted Pretty lampooned Labor's new policy, which removes R&D concessions and proposes new industry hubs.
"What we are going to end up doing is funding more government agencies studying more options about where to put more technology parks," Mr Pretty told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce forum in Adelaide yesterday. "We are world's best practice at writing government reports on innovation."
The policy would not make "one iota" of difference to innovation but would burden business with additional costs.
Mr Pretty also criticised the policy for failing manufacturing.
"If you have a blast furnace or are in the auto industry you may enjoy some of the government's largesse," he said. "But the bulk of Australian manufacturers are left sweating out the downturn by themselves."

This definately shows that Mr. Pretty is totally in control of the future of Hills. He knows that very little of the current ALP money will float Hills way. The major benifactor of Tax money is being spent on Union controlled companies. BlueScope got the massive $100 million Reform payment, they get numerous R&D grants and have customs chasing any supplier who dare sources outside their supply chain. The carbon tax along with all the other nightmare regulations imposed by this government will all be removed shortly. Then business large and small can restart afresh.

2 comments:

I'm confused. In the previous blog you seemed to suggest the ALP and the Liberals both had no idea on what's needed to turn the construction industry around, then two days later, you seem to be suggesting the the impending annihilation of the ALP will lead to our industry's salvation.

I'm sorry, but in spite of being a conservative voter who would like to see a change of Government, I just don't see that the colour of the ruling party really matters all that much to our industry. At some stage, we need to own our own future, otherwise we'll always feel like under-empowered victims of someone else's whim.

I contrast this with your comments on Steeline in Bundaberg which were empathic, and recognised the need for the industry to work together. The impact of natural disasters is terrible. But do we need natural disasters to pull together? I'm not talking here about the questionable price-setting options discussed by some in this blog. What I'm suggesting is recognition of what the real barriers are to our industry succeeding, and working together to fight to make it happen.

Implying a move to an Australian version of Tea Party politics is the solution is simplistic and wrong.

3. "What I'm suggesting is recognition of what the real barriers are to our industry succeeding, and working together to fight to make it happen" CORRECT.

4. "Implying a move to an Australian version of Tea Party politics" - No - what I am implying is the control of this industry by big players (BlueScope) be bought back to a level playing field - without the handdouts, without the Union control (But that's BlueScope's descision) and without Customs running around protecting their supply chain. Most of BlueScope's feed and fabricated product is imported.

Do you think the ASI etc have the interests of all rollformers & those in the roofing industry and represent us at all levels of government? Or would you prefer an independent body or lobby group to discuss aspects you have highlighted above.